Milton board hears $1.95M maintenance-facility plan and $970K health sciences proposal; vote on architects set for Dec. 15

Milton School District trustees heard detailed proposals on two capital maintenance projects at their Dec. 4 meeting and agreed to consider contracting architects and engineers at a special board meeting on Dec. 15.

District staff described a proposed new district maintenance facility at the corner of Hilltop Drive and Municipal Drive and a health care sciences area at the high school. The schematic pricing shared with the finance committee estimated the maintenance facility at about $1,950,000 and the health care sciences project at about $970,000. Administration said architect and engineering fees are estimated at about 8.5% of overall project cost.

Steven, who described current maintenance operations, told the board the district still uses a 5,000-square-foot shop built in 1979 and often stores equipment in shipping containers because of limited indoor storage. He said the current arrangement requires staff to place trailers inside the shop to stage risers for events, illustrating operational constraints that drove the project proposal.

Jeremy, who discussed programming needs for the high school, said the health care sciences space would move CNA and EMT instruction out of an undersized, repurposed room into a dedicated STEM wing with simulation labs, bed stations and a phlebotomy lab. He said the expanded facility would improve hands-on certification opportunities and visibility for career-technical education.

Finance discussion emphasized funding options. Ross and other administrators explained the district has been depositing money into Fund 46 (established April 2020) to self-fund large capital maintenance projects; state rules require a five-year waiting period before accessing deposited funds. Administrators said Fund 46 balances could cover architect and engineering services so the board could proceed without asking taxpayers for new revenue for those initial design and bidding steps.

Board members who toured existing facilities described cramped, cold conditions in the maintenance shop and noted expected operational savings from a centralized storage and distribution point — for example, the ability to accept full semi shipments of bulk salt and paper goods. Trustees asked about schedule: administration said the health care sciences project could be bid and under construction in time to be substantially complete before the 2026–27 school year; the maintenance facility timeline would likely push construction into 2027.

The finance committee postponed a final recommendation so the full board could engage; the board scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 15 to vote on contracting architect and engineering services.

The board did not take a final construction authorization at the Dec. 4 meeting; the action scheduled for Dec. 15 would be limited to selecting design/engineering teams and producing construction documents and cost estimates.